SlowpokeBlog

A reader wrote me about last week's cartoon, which included a character who refused to take down her Kerry sign (along with a footnote saying "see also the cartoonist").

I'm not surprised that you refuse to remove your sign. And that certainly is your right, one that I would fight and die for, would you do the same?

I've heard shades of this comment before, usually something along the lines of: "You criticize this country, but at least you're free to do so here, unlike other places." To which I say, thank goodness. But also: if you think the Radical Reich has actually been fighting for my freedom to draw political cartoons, you are a gigantic butthead.

Let's be clear. The Iraq war has nothing to do with my freedom of expression. Can we please all agree on the simple fact that it was fought for strategic reasons -- namely, establishing military bases, projecting American power in the Middle East, and maintaining long-term influence over the flow of oil?

Secondly, do not even get me started on the Bush rallies where attendees must sign loyalty oaths and anyone wearing a Kerry t-shirt is forcibly removed, if not arrested. This is the most dissent-quashing administration in modern US history. So spare me the absurd argument that Bush is somehow a champion of the First Amendment.

Notice also the invocation of patriotism in the e-mail cited above. I may keep my Kerry sign up, but am I willing to fight for my country? My response: You are confused. Bush is not America, and keeping my sign up is a way (however miniscule) of fighting for my country.

Side note: use of the term "Radical Reich" inspired by this fine blog I recently came across.